Hybrid sales have grown rapidly in the US during the past couple of years – well outpacing the overall automotive market – and it looks like diesel sales are beginning to follow that trajectory as well.

US hybrid light-duty vehicle registrations have jumped 34 percent from 2010 through the end of 2012 and diesel sales are up 24 percent to about 797,000 from about 641,000 two years earlier, diesel advocate Diesel Technology Forum says (citing a study conducted by R.L. Polk at the DLF's request). The important thing to note is that, during the same period, total vehicle registrations were up less than three percent, indicating that more consumers are turning to green vehicles in order to address rising gas prices. It will likely not surprise anyone that California, Massachusetts and New York had the fastest growth rates for diesel sales.

Check out the Diesel Technology Forum's press release below and you can more of the gory numerical details in the gallery below. We've been tracking all green vehicle sales in our monthly series as you can see in the March 2013 numbers, the latest available. Last year, Volkswagen boosted its clean-diesel sales by 32 percent to almost 82,000 vehicles, while Audi diesel sales held steady at about 7,200 units.

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U.S. Diesel Car Registrations Increase By 24%, Hybrids Up 33%; Total Car Market Registrations Increase Just 2.7% Since 2010

WASHINGTON, April 25, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Clean diesel car registrations increased by 24.3 percent in the U.S. from 2010 through 2012 following similar trends of double-digit diesel car sale increases throughout the country, according to new data compiled for the Diesel Technology Forum.

The national registration information was compiled by R.L. Polk and Company and includes data for all types of passenger vehicles – cars, SUVs, pickup trucks and vans – in all 50 states and the District of Columbia from January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2012.

"This new data of total national vehicle registrations coincides with what we've been seeing in the monthly auto sales – clean diesel and hybrid cars are showing consistent and impressive growth patterns in the U.S.," said Allen Schaeffer , the Executive Director of the Diesel Technology Forum.

"This consistent growth in clean diesel registrations in the last three years is particularly noteworthy since it has occurred during an economic recession, the availability of an extremely large number of fuel efficient vehicles, which was topped off by some of the highest diesel fuel prices in U.S. history. Even in the face of these significant challenges, diesel buyers are seeing the big picture and long-term value by investing in record numbers of clean diesel cars and SUVs."

Diesel car and SUV registrations increased from 640,779 in 2010 to 796,794 at the end of 2012 – a 24.34 percent increase. During this same period, hybrid car and SUV registrations increased from 1,714,966 to 2,290,903 – a 33.58 percent increase. In contrast, the total car and SUV registrations in the U.S. increased by just 2.75 percent during the same period.
6.65 Million Diesel and 2.29 Million Hybrid Passenger Vehicles Registered In U.S.

"When all passenger vehicle registrations are included - cars, SUVs, pickup trucks and vans – the diesels currently account for 6,658,399 vehicles while hybrids account for 2,295,500 vehicles throughout the U.S," Schaeffer said, noting that there currently are 27 diesels available in the U.S. market compared to 46 hybrids.

Diesel Vehicle Sales Expected to Increase Significantly As More Vehicles Reach U.S. Market

"While total diesel vehicle registrations are slightly less than three percent in the U.S., auto analysts and market researchers virtually all agree diesel sales are going to increase significantly as the number of new diesels made in available domestically will more than double in the next two years," Schaeffer said. "Some analysts predict diesel sales will reach 10 percent of the U.S. market by 2020.

"In addition, clean diesel vehicle sales are also projected to increase as the U.S. moves toward increasing fuel efficiency standards to 54.5 mpg by 2025," Schaeffer said. "Because clean diesels are 20 to 40 more efficient than gasoline engines, diesel cars and trucks will play a major role in achieving these new standards. And an interesting wild card will be the emerging market domestically and internationally of clean diesel hybrid vehicles that will achieve astounding mpg numbers."

(See information on all clean diesel vehicles currently available in the U.S. and future diesels coming to the U.S. market.)
California, Massachusetts and New York Are The Fastest Growing Diesel Car States . . .

Texas, California and Florida Currently Have the Most Diesels

Below are the individual state leaders in various vehicle registrations categories. Go here to see national diesel, hybrid and total vehicle registration statistics and Top 10 State lists for diesel and hybrid registrations in these categories.

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How do you keep up with the news on clean diesel? You can be a fan of DTF's Facebook page, follow us on Twitter @DieselTechForum, or subscribe to our YouTube channel @DieselTechForum. You can also subscribe to Diesel Direct, a monthly publication featuring the latest clean diesel news and activities of the Diesel Technology Forum by emailing dtf@dieselforum.org.

ABOUT THE DIESEL TECHNOLOGY FORUM The Diesel Technology Forum is a non-profit national organization dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of diesel engines, fuel and technology. Forum members are leaders in clean diesel technology and represent the three key elements of the modern clean-diesel system: advanced engines, vehicles and equipment, cleaner diesel fuel and emissions

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